Busaa is Not Illicit Liquor, Nairobi Court Rules

A Nairobi court has ruled that Busaa is not an illicit liquor, but a traditional brew.

The ruling was made on Thursday by Kibera Senior Principal Magistrate, Esther Bhoke in a case in which a woman was charged with selling and being in possession of five liters of Busaa. 

Ann Kayila, a mother of three, was accused of failing to comply with the standards outlined in the Alcoholic Drinks Act of 2010.

But magistrate Bhoke noted that Busaa is a traditional drink esteemed in Western Kenya, adding that the accused person’s only crime was selling the brew without a license.

“Busaa is a traditional brew that is highly valued by communities from Western Kenya, and, therefore, it is not an illicit brew. However, the accused operated the business without a proper license,” Bhoke stated.

Ms. Kayila pleaded guilty to the charges and sought leniency from the court, saying she resorted to selling Busaa to fend for her three children.

The magistrate ordered her to pay a fine of Sh10,000 for the offense, failure to which she will spend three months in jail.